Lachlan Galvin nears Wests Tigers exit as $2m sacrifice emerges in offers from Eels and Bulldogs

Departing Wests Tigers star Lachlan Galvin is reportedly weighing up offers from the Bulldogs and Eels as the drawn out saga appears to nearing a speedy conclusion.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Galvin met with both clubs on Wednesday with the contract offer believed to be around $750,000 a season.

The Tigers had initially said they would hold Galvin to his contract until the end of next year, but it emerged this week they would be willing to let him leave the club immediately if they received a reported $165,000 transfer fee.

That fee is not believed to be a stumbling block for the Bulldogs and Eels.

While the reported $750,000 salary is more than Galvin’s current contract, it is well short of the Tigers’ extension that was worth close to $6m over five years.

It means the 19-year-old will be sacrificing over $2m to continue to his career elsewhere.

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was caught off guard by Wednesday’s reports the Tigers were entertaining immediately cutting ties with the gun five-eighth.

The Galvin saga has hampered an improved year for the Tigers, whose star recruits Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva publicly ridiculed Galvin’s decision to leave the club that had been prepared to rebuild around him.

The Tigers have also been dealing with bullying allegations and threats of legal action from Galvin’s camp.

Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould surprised by previously ruling out pursuing Galvin, whom he once called the most talented teen he’d ever seen play.

But the longer the Bulldogs have gone without re-signing first-choice halfback Toby Sexton for 2026, the more speculation has festered.

Gould shut down questions about Sexton’s contract status at a club event last week.

The Bulldogs also have a spare roster spot and money in their salary cap for this season after farewelling injury-plagued forward Ryan Sutton in March.

Clubs must finalise their top-30 roster by June 30, and coach Cameron Ciraldo could not say whether the Bulldogs had turned their backs on pursuing Galvin.

“I only heard the latest updates just as I walked into this (press conference). It’s not something we’ve had time to comprehend or talk about,” he said.

Ciraldo was asked point-blank whether the door was still ajar for Galvin.

“That’s another great question,” he said with a laugh.

Parramatta have been considered another leading candidate for Galvin’s services, particularly given five-eighth Dylan Brown is leaving after 2025.

New coach Jason Ryles rates Galvin highly, but prop Junior Paulo insisted Brown would be the club’s five-eighth until he leaves for Newcastle next year.

“(Galvin) is definitely a quality player and has been since he’s come into first grade,” Paulo said.

“Wherever his future ends up, that’s something for the club to sort out, but wherever he does end up I’m sure he’ll be looking to relish in that role.

“Dyl’s our five-eighth and will be for the remainder of this year.”

- With AAP